eTrucking Business

Just three days are left until two “Convoy for a Cure” events roll in Canada.

OOIDA member and “Cure” convoy founder Rachèle Champagne is diligently working to finalize the remaining details before her event on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Cornwall, Ontario. She has managed most of the planning from the cab of her truck.

More than a year ago, Champagne said she had the idea of raising money for breast cancer research while driving down the road and talking to two of her friends, also truckers. Nearly 30 female drivers turned up for Champagne’s first-ever “Cure” convoy a year ago. 

Based on the reaction to Champagne’s initial convoy, this year three other female truck drivers were inspired to host a “Cure” convoy in October. Three will be in Canada and one in Dallas, TX.

“We are hoping to beat the number of trucks we had last year, so I want to encourage all of the female drivers who can make it to come out and raise money for this worthwhile cause,” Champagne told Land Line on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

A “Cure” convoy is set for Oct. 3 in Alberta, Canada, as well. The third convoy is scheduled for Oct. 17 in New Brunswick, and the final event will be hosted at “Willie’s Place” in Carl’s Corner, TX, on Oct. 24.  The three convoys in Canada are for female truckers only, while the U.S. convoy will also have a support convoy for male drivers as well.

Champagne said she is impressed with all of the organizers’ efforts so far. She is already involved in the planning stages for two more convoys in 2010.

“All of the organizers have done amazing jobs. I can’t say enough about them. They are so committed to raising money to fight breast cancer, which affects so many families,” she said.

– By Clarissa Kell-Holland, staff writer
clarissa_kell-holland@landlinemag.com

U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer and John Kerry introduced their version of controversial cap-and-trade legislation Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Cap and trade would establish limits for greenhouse gas emissions in several business sectors. A credit system would allow businesses that operate above limits to purchase credits and would allow businesses with leftover credits to sell on the open market.

Boxer and Kerry’s proposed cap-and-trade senate bill has goals of lowering greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent of 2005 levels by the year 2020, 58 percent of 2005 levels by 2030, and 17 percent of 2005 levels by 2050.

Boxer, D-CA, and Kerry, D-MA, have previously stated they want to begin hearings on the bill in early October.

At an unveiling ceremony on the Capitol lawn, Boxer touted investment that could be driven by cap and trade.

“The global clean energy market is estimated to reach two-and-a-half times the size of the global personal computer market by the year 2020,” Boxer said. “We know from venture capitalists that billions of dollars from the private sector will flow into this market. Others will move ahead if we don’t seize this opportunity.”

The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approved its version of cap and trade (HR2454) in July.

OOIDA opposed the House version, saying the measure would reportedly raise diesel costs by 88 cents per gallon, and that proceeds wouldn’t benefit the nation’s Highway Trust Fund.

Some cost estimates for the House cap-and-trade bill showed the legislation could cost American families more than $1,000 annually from utility and other price increases.

– By Charlie Morasch, staff writer
charlie_morasch@landlinemag.com

In a possible sign that things could be turning around for the trucking sector, Daimler Trucks North America has announced it will keep its plant in Portland, OR, open after all.

The company had previously announced it would close the plant in June of 2010. But now, thanks in part to a substantial military order and an increase in demand for heavy trucks, the company says it will keep the plant running.

That’s good news for the 650 employees who work there. A union representative told The Associated Press that the union is hoping for another three-year contract.

The company had previously planned to transfer the manufacturing of Western Star commercial vehicles from the Portland plant to one in Mexico. Those plans are now on hold, along with a plan to transfer Freightliner military vehicle manufacturing operations to North Carolina.

Cash-strapped states are getting in line for a share of federal stimulus funds to pay for transportation projects. Among them is Missouri, where officials are hoping to land at least $200 million to build 30 miles of truck-only lanes along I-70.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that all 50 states have applied for a share of $1.5 billion in grants under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, program.

States have submitted 1,400 projects so far that would total $57 billion. Approximately half of the projects are highways or bridges with the rest focusing on transit, railroad, port infrastructure or multimodal applications, DOT officials announced.

Preference will be given to innovative projects, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stated.

Innovation is something Missouri is hoping to cash in on with the truck-lanes project.

Missouri officials are hoping that their proposed 30 miles of truck-only lanes as a demonstration project in Saline and Cooper counties will eventually lead to the development of truck lanes in the entire 200-mile corridor from Kansas City to St. Louis. However, the 200-mile proposal lacks funding according to MoDOT officials.

“If selected, this project would revolutionize interstate corridors that have heavy freight movements, separating cars from long-haul semis,” MoDOT Outreach Program Coordinator Bob Brendel stated online.

“It would demonstrate just how the concept would improve safety, reduce congestion and allow for efficiencies in freight flows.”

The Missouri-based Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association believes that while the concept of separating cars and trucks may be intriguing, the cost would outweigh the benefits – especially if truckers were forced to shoulder the burden in tolls or higher taxes.

OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer recently told Land Line that the truck-lane proposal would amount to one of the most expensive ways to expand highway capacity and that there would be better things for the state to spend the money on.

The U.S. DOT will announce the winners of the federal stimulus grants in January or February. The TIGER grant program is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act approved by Congress and the Obama administration earlier this year.

– By David Tanner, staff writer
david_tanner@landlinemag.com

See related Land Line article:
Missouri truck lanes approved but lack funding

The Truckin’ for Kids Truck Drags Show and Shine, now in its 29th year, is Oct. 4 at the Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA. This isn’t just another truck show.

In addition to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, which is the primary beneficiary, Truckin’ for Kids supports a number of other children’s charities and also has a scholarship fund. So far, the organization has raised more than half a million dollars for children in need.

Past shows have featured more than 250 trucks, and organizers expect at least that many this year. The excitement will include drag races, many classes of show trucks, and a Light the Lot contest.

Land Line Field Editor Suzanne Stempinski will be on the scene. Watch for her report on this Web site and in an upcoming issue of Land Line Magazine.

For additional details on this event, visit Truckin’ for Kids.

–  By Kerry Evans-Spillman, Land Line staff
kerry_evans-spillman@landlinemag.com

An effort to increase more than 70 motor vehicle fees in Connecticut has been shot down by the governor.

Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell has vetoed a bill approved by the Democratic-controlled legislature to boost fees by $60 million during the next two years. But after $10 million in reductions to other licenses and fees, the net increase would have been $50 million.

Rell said she is opposed to the DMV increases, which would have affected everything from driver’s licenses to hearse registrations. They were set to increase Jan. 1.

The governor also was unhappy that the General Assembly chose to pursue the fee increases less than a month after they approved a two-year, $37.6 billion budget that included $1 billion in tax and fee increases. The budget took effect Sept. 6 without Rell’s signature.

Democrats were critical of the governor’s decision only months after she proposed raising the same DMV fees. Rell said they should have found other cuts in the budget to make up for the fee increases.

Democrats also say the fee increases would have assured that statewide bus and rail fees would not rise.

The tax bill – HB7002 – was one of the final pieces of legislation needed to implement the budget. Lawmakers now must go back to the drawing board to come up with a possible solution.

– By Keith Goble, state legislative editor

Editor’s Note: Please share your thoughts with us about the legislation included in this story. Comments may be sent to statelegislativedesk@ooida.com.

Multiple laws that take effect the first of the month in Arkansas address one of the pet peeves of professional drivers: focusing on anything other than the road.

Starting Thursday, Oct. 1, sending text messages while driving in the state will be forbidden for all drivers. In addition, drivers under 18 will be prohibited from using cell phones, including hands-free devices. Drivers 18 to 20 years old will be limited to hands-free devices.

Violations of the texting ban will be a primary offense, meaning law enforcement could pull over drivers solely for using communication devices. Offenders would face fines up to $100.

Exceptions will be made for emergency calls. Of particular interest to truckers, CB radios also are exempted.

The new rule prohibiting drivers under age 18 from the use of any mobile device would need to be stopped for another reason. Even then, they will get off with a warning. Repeat offenders would face $50 fines.

Efforts to curb the practice of using electronic wireless devices while driving have picked up steam across the country in recent months.

New York recently became the 18th state to outlaw the practice of operating a motor vehicle while giving your thumbs a work out. More than a dozen states have acted this year alone with bans in Illinois, Oregon and New Hampshire slated to take effect Jan. 1.

A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has already fueled increased interest in efforts to put a stop to use of the technology. Researchers found that drivers are more than 23 times as likely to be involved in a crash or near-crash while texting at the wheel.

The researchers studied truck drivers for 18 months to come up with their findings. But the results generally applied to all drivers.

The findings have energized lawmakers in states that include Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky and Oklahoma to pursue legislation during their 2010 sessions to adopt texting bans. More efforts are anticipated as Congress could get involved.

Meanwhile, as Arkansas readies for its ban on electronic devices the state’s Highway and Transportation Department has started using Twitter to give truckers and others a heads-up about highway conditions throughout the state.

“Using Twitter will allow the department another way to deliver information quickly and efficiently,” state Highway Director Dan Flowers said in a statement. Travelers are encouraged to check the site before getting behind the wheel.

To view other legislative activities of interest for Arkansas in 2009, click here.

– By Keith Goble, state legislative editor

Editor’s Note: Please share your thoughts with us about the legislation included in this story. Comments may be sent to statelegislativedesk@ooida.com.

Driver Sheila Grothe died in April after being forced from her job by cancer and a battle that brought astronomical health care bills.

Grothe’s struggle with medical expenses touched Jasmine Jordan, the 16-year-old daughter of OOIDA member Lee Jordan, Sheila’s boss.

Jasmine, who also goes by “Jazzy,” decided to run from Los Angeles to New York, beginning her trek on Sept. 1 and finishing sometime next year. She’s running to raise awareness for truckers and others without medical coverage, and to raise money for the St. Christopher Fund charity, which provides medical care for truckers who wouldn’t otherwise receive treatment.

“On that day I made a decision that I will do something to change the system, so people who don’t have medical coverage to pay for treatments like Sheila needed will have options,” Jazzy wrote on her Web site.

This past weekend, Jazzy stopped and spoke to truck drivers participating in the Phoenix World’s Largest Truck Convoy.

Lee Jordan said Jazzy was invited to come onstage Saturday at the Arizona Law Enforcement Torch Run and discuss her fundraising effort.

“She was able to tell them her story and mention the St. Christopher Fund,” Lee said. “They really encouraged her. It was a great thing.”

For more information, and to track Jazzy’s progress, visit her Web site at www.runwithjazzy.com. She also has a fan group at on facebook.

Jazzy, a runner who previously had set her sights on training for distance running in the 2012 Olympics, told Land Line Now she worked all summer to prepare, enduring 16-mile runs in Arizona’s August heat.

On Sept. 1, Jazzy began her 100-mile per week trek, hoping to raise money to support her training and the St. Christopher Fund.

Lee joked that he’s kept a bottle of water “pretty much taped to her hands” to keep Jazzy hydrated. The junior in high school – who will keep up with schoolwork on the road – has had to adjust to summer running south of her Minnesota hometown.

“I’m proud of her stick-to-it-ism,” Lee said.

Jazzy and Lee know she’ll face a combination of heat, cold, miles of hard pavement and even sheer boredom on her cross-country journey.

Will she make it?

“I’m not going to give up,” she said. “I’ll just keep going.”

– By Charlie Morasch, staff writer
charlie_morasch@landlinemag.com

Diesel prices have dropped for the fourth consecutive week, down 2.1 cents to average $2.601 per gallon.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, this average is down $1.358 from a year ago when fuel dipped below the $4 mark to average $3.959 per gallon.

All nine regions are reporting decreases in fuel prices this past week. The lowest average price is being reported in the Gulf Coast where fuel is averaging $2.526 per gallon. Despite a 2-cent drop in California from a week ago, the region still is averaging the highest price for fuel at $2.807 per gallon.

Below are the regional prices for ULSD reported by the Department of Energy. To see a map of the states in each of the listed regions, click here.

• East Coast: $2.612
• New England: $2.703
• Central Atlantic: $2.712
• Lower Atlantic: $2.557
• Midwest: $2.589
• Gulf Coast: $2.526
• Rocky Mountain: $2.656
• West Coast: $2.751
• California: $2.807

Transportation officials in New Hampshire are asking for feedback from residents on several road and bridge proposals throughout the state.

On Sept. 14, the state Department of Transportation kicked off more than 30 public hearings on New Hampshire’s 10-year transportation plan. The initiative is intended to identify roadwork while also addressing how to pay for the program. The state is confronted with tight budget constraints.

New Hampshire did get a shot in the arm this year with the infusion of $130 million for roads and bridges from the federal government, but it is a short-term boost.

A state legislative commission says in order to get work done on the state’s 10-year plan, more revenue sources must be found. The group is looking into increasing fuel taxes, public-private partnerships, bonding opportunities and possible vehicle-miles-traveled taxes to help reach their funding goals.

These options and more are expected to be discussed at public hearings that run until Oct. 29. To see a list of the hearings scheduled across the state, click here.

Residents will be able to comment on the draft plan, which includes $20 million to widen Interstate 93 from Manchester to the Massachusetts line and to retrofit tolls in Hooksett for high-speed passage. Another priority is fixing the state’s most deficient bridges. New Hampshire has 137 “red list” bridges, and 87 of them are in the 10-year plan.

The commission responsible for drafting the 10-year plan will meet for a final discussion and vote on the plan this fall. They must submit the plan to Gov. John Lynch in December. The governor will take the plan to lawmakers during the 2010 regular session, where the Legislature must approve it before the session wraps up in late in June.

Anyone unable to attend the public hearings through the end of October can submit written testimony within 10 days of each of the public hearings. Written comments should be addressed to:

William J. Cass, P.E.
Director of Project Development
New Hampshire Department of Transportation
John O. Morton Building, 7 Hazen Drive
P.O. Box 483
Concord, NH 03302-0483

To view other legislative activities of interest for New Hampshire in 2009, click here.

– By Keith Goble, state legislative editor

Editor’s Note: Please share your thoughts with us about the legislation included in this story. Comments may be sent to statelegislativedesk@ooida.com.